Royal Harwich Yacht Club hosted an ad-hoc National 12
open meeting on Sunday. Partly aided by the Oppie Open
Meeting at the RHYC on Saturday, 10 National 12s (7 member’s
boats and 3 visitors) turned out for the club’s first day of
Sunday Racing. This enabled the oppie-parents from Saturday
to get out on the water on Sunday (and in some cases capsize
more than their children had on the Saturday!)
As
per last year, the RHYC kicked off their 2016 dinghy racing
season with a short-sharp series. On Sunday the River Orwell
experienced sunshine with an increasing easterly wind as the
afternoon went on. With 23 boats out on the water, Race
Officer for the day Matt House opted to use the main club
start line and only run one start per race.
The first race got underway promptly and saw the fleet
beating against the tide towards the first mark, onto a
short reach and then downwind. By lap 2 Tom Stewart (crewed
by daughter Isobel) had a strong lead, followed by Antony
Gifford (crewed by son James) which the held to the finish.
Further down the fleet, different tactics were being chosen
for the downwind leg, with the confident (or more stable 12s
with T-foil rudders?) opting to gybe, whilst others (Jon
Brown (crewed by son Sam)) attempting to gybe and promptly
capsize whilst George Finch (crewed by Lucy Homer) opted to
tack-round and then sail past!
When race 2 began it was apparent a few of the boats had
mistaken the 1-minute gun for the 3-minute gun and some
boats were even facing away from the start. However, this
race followed in a similar vein to Race 1. It was
interesting to see that Jo Gifford (crewed by Charlotte
Stewart) in N3348 had not learnt from her brother Jon
Brown’s mistake in Race 1, and promptly capsized during a
gybe when George Finch (crewed by Lucy Homer) opted to
tack-round and again sail past! At the front, Tom Stewart
(crewed by daughter Isobel) finished first, with Antony
Gifford (crewed by son James) in second.
Race 3 saw the 12s get off to a great start, although
unfortunately two boats were OCS and didn’t return. However,
the conditions really showed how fast the 12s (both foiling
and non-foiling) do go up wind. Once again, Tom Stewart
(crewed by daughter Isobel) led from the start, although Tim
Wood (crewed by Dan Patten) made a brilliant effort to keep
up with the boats with t-foil rudders, by continuing his
streak of coming 3rd.
Race 4 saw the wind increase further and with everyone’s
legs starting to feel the pain of hiking, (apart from Chris
Mayhew (crewed by wife Nicole) who ventured out in his Dad’s
Final Chapter to join the fun) the Race Officer kindly
reduced the race to one lap. Towards the gybe mark, once
again Jon Brown (crewed by son Sam) and George Finch (crewed
by Lucy Homer) were close by. Interestingly, Jon who clearly
isn’t afraid of getting wet decided to gybe and then capsize
(he hadn’t learnt from his Sister in race 2!), but George
deciding to gybe at the last minute was successful in gybing
and following on to finish just behind Bruce Johnson (crewed
by Oliver Meadowcroft). John Meadowcroft (crewed by
Charlotte Stewart) took line honours in his hijack design,
yet again proving how capable the design is in a breeze.
By this stage, a number of the other dinghies racing had
(wisely) retired. However, Race 5 started in a similar vein
to the other 4 races although this time Tom Stewart (crewed
by daughter Isobel) was capsized as the start gun went. Tim
Wood (crewed by Dan Patten) used this to his advantage
managed to fend off the boats with t-foiling rudders for the
whole race and therefore crossing the line first. After
this, signalling that 5 races were enough, most of the fleet
headed home. However, John Meadowcroft (perhaps in a final
attempt to ditch his 3rd crew of the day (Charlotte
Stewart)) went for a ‘final blast’, only to capsize to
windward within 5 seconds!
Thanks to the RHYC for allowing us to descend upon the start of their racing series which already had a great turnout of club dinghies. A special mention must go to Nigel Waller (crewed by Rory Gifford) for sailing N326, his 1938 ‘Uffa King’ design in the breezy conditions!
The next National 12 open is on 17th April at Hykeham
Sailing Club, followed by Gul Series #2 at Salcombe Yacht
Club over the first May bank holiday weekend.
Overall results
Rank | SailNo | Boat | HelmName | CrewName | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Total | Nett |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 3544 | Whitebait | Tom Stewart | Isobel Stewart | Royal Harwich Yacht Club | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | (5.0) | 10.0 | 5.0 |
2nd | 3529 | Cat in the Hat | Antony Gifford | James Gifford | Royal Harwich Yacht Club | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | (3.0) | 2.0 | 11.0 | 8.0 |
3rd | 3471 | Lars Porsena Of Clusium | Tim Wood | Dan Patten | Walton & Frinton Yacht Club | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | (5.0) | 1.0 | 15.0 | 10.0 |
4th | 3543 | D.B. Cooper | John Meadowcroft | Dan Meadowcroft; Katy Meadowcroft; Charlotte Stewart | Upper Thames Sailing Club | 5.0 | 4.0 | (11.0 OCS) | 1.0 | 3.0 | 24.0 | 13.0 |
5th | 3477 | Clandestino | Bruce Johnson | Oliver Meadowcroft | Royal Harwich Yacht Club | 8.0 | 5.0 | (11.0 OCS) | 6.0 | 4.0 | 34.0 | 23.0 |
6th | 3513 | Silver Lining | George Finch | Lucy Homer | Royal Harwich Yacht Club | 6.0 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 7.0 | (11.0 DNF) | 35.0 | 24.0 |
7th | 3483 | Tonto | Jon Brown | Sam Brown | Burghfield Sailing Club | 7.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 8.0 | (11.0 DNC) | 37.0 | 26.0 |
8th | 326 | Rose Marie | Nigel Waller | Rory Gifford | Royal Harwich Yacht Club | (9.0) | 8.0 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 38.0 | 29.0 |
9th | 3437 | Worth Its Weight... | Chris Mayhew | Nicole Mayhew | Royal Harwich Yacht Club | (11.0 DNC) | 11.0 DNC | 11.0 DNC | 4.0 | 11.0 DSQ | 48.0 | 37.0 |
10th | 3348 | Charlotte Anne | Jo Gifford | Charlotte Stewart | Royal Harwich Yacht Club | 4.0 | (11.0 DNF) | 11.0 DNC | 11.0 DNC | 11.0 DNC | 48.0 | 37.0 |